The 112nd edition of the Tour de France has a big favorite in Tadej Pogacar. As the greatest adversary, Jonas Vingegaard will start at the France tour starting on July 5th in Lille. The Danish challenger feels ready for what is eagerly awaited.
“To win the tour, you have to be on the same level as Pogacar,” said Jonas Vingegaard a few days before the start of the Tour de France in conversation with the Spanish TV station “RTVE”: “I think that he will start the tour in a better form than in previous years, and that forces me to exceed more than ever.”
In order to be able to get his third overall victory in the season highlight, “I have to be able to beat him,” said the 28-year-old: “I definitely feel good.” That was not clear after a concussion suffered in the classic Paris-Nice: “Due to the fall, I was out of action for almost two weeks, but I have the feeling that my condition improved enormously.”
Tour de France: Will a time trial be decisive?
Last year Vingegaard came in second place behind defending champion Pogacar, also after a comeback of a not inconsiderable injury. The Danish superstar puts great hopes of being able to turn the spit over this year, especially on the fifth stage of the France tour.
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“The first time trial over 33 kilometers is crucial. This time trial can make a big difference in the overall ranking,” believes Vingegaard, who pushed behind: “However, I would rather drive the mountain time trial. In addition, you cannot pick out a stage that will be decisive, every stage is important.” Some headache ready to the captain of Visma Lease a Bike the final.
“It is certain that the last stage (with a passage over the Montmartre in Paris, editor’s note) can be very dangerous. At the Olympic Games, we saw how difficult it was … At that time only fifteen drivers reached Montmartre at the same time, but on the tour there will be more than 100 drivers, and after 21 racing days they will be very tired,” he said, like many of his colleagues.